Apparatus for feeding continuous webs of stationery



May 1, 1962 H. A. w. BACKHIOFF ET AL 3,031,952

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING CONTINUOUS WEBS OF STATIONERY Filed June 6, 195a 5 Sheets- Sheet 1 FIG. 3

INVENTORS HAROLD ANJBACKHOFF EcnNAL BEECH B R D ATTORNEYS y 1962, H. A. w. BACKHOFF ET AL 3,031,952

' APPARATUS FOR FEEDING CONTINUOUS WEBS OF STATIONERY Filed June 6. 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 lnvsu'roes HAROLD A.W. BA H REmNALb BEECH BY Malaw WHLJALU Emkm ATTORNEYS y 962 H. A. w. BACKHOFF ET AL 3,031,952

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING CONTINUOUS WEBS OF STATIONERY Filed June 6, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 |NVENTOR$ HAROLD A-wfBAukl-loF 5T4 RECHN ALD 1555c MWA wAAW-mmm Arman;

y 1962 H. A. w. BACKHOFF ET AL 3,031,952

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING CONTINUOUS WEBS OF STATIONERY Filed June 6, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 4 /0 2/ Ma 2/ 8 O :I r /M 0 FIG. 6.

iNvEN'roRs HAROLD AMI. BACKHOFF B RECHNMD 'BEEU-k ATTORNEYS May 1, 1962 H. A. w. BACKHOFF ET AL APPARATUS FOR FEEDING CONTINUOUS WEBS OF STATIONERY 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 6, 1958 WvEN'roQs w A-W-BACKHOFF' EVPE-CHNALD BEECH uacmx wmnhmg ATToszNaYs United States Patent 3,031,952 APPARATUS FOR FEEDING CONTINUOUS WEBS OF STATIONERY Harold Albert William Backhofir, Richmond, and Reginald Beech, Chiswick, London, England, assignors to Egry Limited, London, England Filed June 6, 1958, Ser. No. 740,227 Claims priority, application Great Britain June 12, 1957 5 Claims. (Cl. 10157) This invention relates to apparatus for feeding continuous webs of stationery in addressing 01' like machines, the webs being of the kind which are divided by longitudinally spaced transversely extending lines of perforations into a series of connected form lengths, the lines of perforations providing means by which a form length can be readily severed from the remainder of the web after it has been fed past an imprinting position in the addressing or like machine.

As the web is fed through the addressing or like machine an imprint, for example particulars of a name and address may be required to be imprinted at one or more longitudinally spaced areas on each form length, the imprinted form length being adapted to be severed from the remainder of the web after the imprinting operation has been completed. The web is severed by bursting or tearing along one of the transverse lines of perforations by a web severing device and it is accordingly important that the transverse lines of perforations should be accurately positioned relative to the severing device when the latter is to be actuated.

It is an object of the present invention to provide means for controlling the feeding of the continuous web to ensure that the areas to receive an imprint will be correctly positioned at the printing position and that the transverse perforated line along which the web is to be torn will be accurately positioned with respect to the web severing device and further to provide control means for automatically operating the severing device after a )selected number of imprinting operations have been effected.

According to the present invention apparatus for operating on a continuous stationery web divided by longitudinally spaced transverse lines of perforations into a series of connected form lengths, includes electrically actuated means for feeding the web to an imprinting position, electrically actuated control means for arresting the web at said position, means for arresting the web when the transverse lines of perforations at the leading end of the form length is correctly positioned with respect to the web severing mechanism, and manually adjustable means for controlling the operation of said mechanism to effect a severing operation when a selectednumber of imprinting operations have been carried out on the form length. If two or more imprinting operations are to be effected on each form length, the control means will be such that the web severing mechanism will be automatically actuated when the last imprinting operation has been completed atwhich time the transverse line of perforations at the leading end of the web will be accurately positioned with respect to the web severing mechanism. r

The areas in each form length which are to be imprinted may be equi-spaced or disposed at irregular intervals and the invention has the important advantage that the control means can be arranged to arrest the web in correct position to suit the particular location of the various areas.

The means for arresting the web may be controlled 'by the web, for example the latter may be formed with an aperture in each form length to permit the engagement of electrical contacts to close an electrical circuit to stop 3,031,952 Patented May 1, 1962 an imprint at the imprinting position, the line of perforations at the leading end of the form length will be correctly positioned with respect to the web severing mechanism.

The contacts may include a metal sensing brush adapted to make wiping contact over the web and a metal contact located on the feed plate over which the web is fed so that when the aperture is aligned with the brush the latter will engage the said contact. 7

The means for controlling the operation of the web severing mechanism may include a manually adjustable switch adapted to be preset to close an electrical circuit to energise the solenoid to operate the said mechanism after a predetermined number of imprinting operations have been completed. ,The switch may include a' rotor arm rotatable over a series of spaced contacts, the arm being adapted to be given a rotary step like movement from one contact to the next each time an imprinting operation is completed. The switch is adjustable to make selected contacts operable to complete or prepare a circuit to the solenoid for actuating the severing mechanism; for example, the switch can be adjusted so that engagement of the rotor on every alternate, or every third, fourth or other number of the contacts will complete the said circuit. Preferably the engagement of the rotor with a selected contact prepares the circuit, but the circuit is not finally completed until the last imprinting operation has been effected.

To enable the invention to be fully understood it will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an end view of apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention in the form of a unit adapted to be positioned adjacent to an addressing machine for receiving continuous stationery fed through the machine,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the unit in assembled relation with an addressing machine,

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side view partly in section, of the printing head and associated parts of the addressing machine,

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the unit on an enlarged scale, part of the top plate being broken away,

FIG. 5 is an end view of an enlarged scale, of part of the unit illustrating the web severing mechanism,

FIG. 6 is a sectional side view on line 66 of FIG. 5 showing the web feeding and severing mechanism, and,

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram of the electrical control means.

As shown in the accompanying drawings the apparatus comprises a unit A adapted to be used with an addressing machine indicated by B, the unit being positioned in juxtaposed relation to the machine-B at the out feed side thereof'so that a continuous web of stationery imprinted in the addressingmachine will be fed to the unit.

The Unit A comprises a casing 1 having a horizontally disposed feed table 2 extending in the same plane as the bed plate '3 of the addressing machine. For feeding the stationery web a feed roller 4 is provided mounted on a shaft 5 and extending transversely of the bed plate 3. The roller 4 is adapted to be rotated by an electric motor M through a train of gears, the shafts of two of which are indicated by 6 and 7.

The motor M is adapted to be running continuously when the unit A is being used and is connectable with the first gear of the gear train by an electrically operated clutch which is energised into engaged position to couple 3, the feed roller to the motor when the stationery is to be fed and is de-energised into disengaged position when the desired feed movement of the stationery has been com pleted. An electrically operated brake is also provided which is adapted to be energised to impart a braking action on the drive for the web feeding means when the clutch is disengaged.

A pair of transversely spaced feed rollers 4 is provided, the rollers being disposed in parallel superposed relation to the feed roller 4. Each roller 4 is carrier on an arm 8 pivoted at 9. Each arm is urged downwardly by a spring 10 to press the respective rollers 4 into resilient engagement with the driving roller 4, so as to co-operate therewith to feed the web.

Forwardly of the feeding rollers, web severing means is provided including a blade 11 having a lower cutting edge 12 of inverted V-shape the inclined edge portions 13 being adapted when the blade is moved downwardly, to

engage opposite side edges of the stationery web to initiate a cutting operation inwardly of the side edges of the web along a transverse line of perforations formed in the web.

The blade 11 is supported on a blade holder 14 having upwardly extending portions 14 connected to the opposite ends of the blade. The holder 14 is guided for reciprocating movement through a transverse gap 15 through fixed clamping plates 16. The holder is supported on a pair of posts 17 mounted for vertical reciprocating movement, the posts being urged upwardly by springs 18 to position the blade 11 in upwardly spaced relation to the fixed clamping plates 16 in alignment with the gap 15. g

The holder 14 is adapted to be drawn downwardly to effect a web severing operation by a solenoid, the armature of which is connected with a link 18 secured centrally to the holder 14.

A pair of movable clamping plates 19 is provided, guided for vertical reciprocating movement; the movable clamping plates are normally urged into the position indicated in the drawing by springs and are adapted to be depressed by the rotation of bell crank levers 20 pivoted at 20 to a fixed part of the frame of the unit. The free end of one arm of each bell crank has an adjustable stud 21 for engaging the upper face of the respective plate 19. The other arm is connected by pin and slot means with a link 22 pivoted at 23 and provided with a roller 24. The latter is disposed in the path of a member carried by, and reciprocating with, the blade holder 14 such that when the holder is moved downwardly roller 24 will be forced outwardly to pivot the link 22 outwardly about its pivot and thereby etfect rotation of the bell crank lever 20 to move the clamping plates 19 downwardly towards the fixed clamping plates 16 so as to clamp a web of stationery positioned on the latter. I

The operation of the means for feeding the continuous stationery over the feed table 2 and the operation of the blade and clamping means is electrically controlled by the transmission of electrical impulses from means in the addressing machine.

The addressing machine includes a frame 25 supporting the bed plate 3. A printing head 26 is pivoted at 27 for reciprocating movement towards and away from a platen 28 so as to co-operate in known manner with printing plates fed into position on the platen.

An extension member 29 is formed integral with head 26 and projects downwardly below the bed plate 3 between two switches S S The switches are of the type wherein when the plunger 30 is moved inwardly it rides over a switch actuating arm but does not operate it to close the switch, but when the plunger 30 is returned by the spring 31 to its outward position as indicated in FIG. 3, the plunger operates the switch actuating arm and the switch is momentarily closed to transmit an electrical impulse to a connected circuit as will be described hereinafter.

The arrangement is such that when the head 26 is in its lowermost position in effecting an imprint on the web of stationery, the left hand edge of the extension 29 will engage the plunger 30 and the switch S so as to force it inwardly. As the head starts to rise the edge of the extension will be pivoted away' from the plunger and allow it to be moved outwardly by its spring 31 during which movement the actuating arm of the switch S will be actuated to close the switch. Accordingly the switch S is closed during the first part of the upward movement of the head 26. When the head is in its uppermost position the right hand edge of the extension 29 will engage the plunger 30 of the switch S and force it inwardly but without operating the switch. When however the head starts to descend the said edge will pivot away from the plunger to permit the latter to be moved outwardly by its springs 31 so that the switch S will be closed during the first part of the downward movement of the head 26.

The operation of the stationery feeding and severing mechanism is controlled by electrically actuated means as will be fully understood by reference to the circuit diagram illustrated in FIG. 7.

As shown S represents a switch provided with a series of 48 equi-spaced contacts and S a rotor which is adapted to be given a rotational stepping movement from one contact to the next on the energisation of a solenoid each time an imprinting operation is eflected by the printing head 26 of the addressing machine. SW is a preselector switch consisting of four arcuate segments SW SW SW, SW each having three contacts SW SW SW A four arm contact lever SWR is provided and adapted to be rotated manually to position its arms in engagement with either of the contacts SW SW or SW BS represents a solenoid which when energised applies the brake previously referred to and BR is a relay for controlling the circuit to BS. CS is a solenoid which when energised actuates a clutch to couple the motor M to the gearing to effect the rotation of the feed roller 5 and CR is a relay for controlling the circuit of the solenoid CS.

The rotor S of switch S is electrically connected to each of the contacts SW of the preselector switch SW and the fixed contacts of the switch S are connected to the selector switch as follows. The contact members 2, 4, 8 and 10 and the multiples thereof with the exception of contacts 6 and 12 and their multiples are connected to the contacts SW of the contacts SW and SW contacts 3, 9, 15, 21, 27, 33, 39 and 45 are connected to the contacts SW of the segments SW and SW and the contacts 6, 18, 30 and 42 are connected to contacts SW and SW of the segments SW, SW. The contacts 12, 24, 36 and 48 are connected to one arm of the rotor SWR, the oppositely disposed arm being connected with a relay GR which is preset electrically by the relay GR, and energised by an impulse from switch S after the rotor S of switch S has been moved to make electrical contact with the pro-selected contacts of rotary switch S, and is then latched by the pre-setting effected by relay 6R The selector switch is used to control the operation of mechanism for severing a form length from the continuous stationery being fed and by adjusting the position of the rotor SWR the said mechanism may be actuated each time a printing operation is efiected on the web by the printing head 26, after every second, every third or any other selected number of imprinting operations. The preselector switch illustrated in FIG. 7 is designed for preselecting the severing operations after each, every second or every third imprinting operation and as shown the rotor is in position for efliecting a severing operation after each imprinting operation.

The operation of the apparatus with particular reference to the electrical circuit diagram will now be described.

.When the apparatus is being used the main switch MS is closed to close the supply circuit to the motor M which then runs continuously.

Assuming that the printing head 26 has just completed an imprinting operation on a selected area of a continuous web of stationery, as the head rises it operates the switch S which transmits an electrical impulse to energise the relay OR which separates contacts A and makes contacts B, C, D. The separation of contacts A opens the circuit of the brake relay BR and the solenoid BS is de-energised to release the brake and the change over contacts a are disengaged from contact b and engaged with contact c, i.e. they assume the position shown in the portion of the circuit diagram at the top of FIG. 7.

As the contacts B are closed a circuit is made to the clutch relay CR which efiects the engagement of latching contacts a, e the latter contacts being closed a short time after contacts d.

The contacts B are only made momentarily but a circuit to relay CR is now provided through the latching contacts d, e and the relay CR energises the solenoid to engage the clutch. The motor is now able to drive the feed roller 4 to feed the continuous stationary over the bed plate 3 and the feed table 2. The purpose of providing a short delay before the latching contacts e are made is to allow time for the head 26 to be lifted clear of the web before the clutch is engaged and the web starts to move.

As shown in FIG. 2 a series of metal brushes 2 are adjustably mounted on a metal bar 2' extending longitudinally over the feed table 3. When the stationery has been fed a distance to position the next area in printing position beneath the head 26 a hole 2 which is provided in each form length of the web w is aligned with the first brush and the latter is able to make contact with a metal plate 2 underlying the stationery and'which is connected to the relay BR so that when the brush makes contact with the plate, the relay BR is operated and the change over contacts a moved from contact c to contact I) to open the clutch relay circuit. Relay BR also elfects the engagement of latching contacts 1 and energises the solenoid BS to apply the brake immediately after the clutch is disengaged. The speed of feed of the stationery web is such that the hole 2 is moved beyond the brush 2* before the feed is halted so that contact between the brush and plate 2 is broken. The circuit to relay BR is however held closed by the latching contacts f.

The closing of the contacts C transmits an impulse to the relay U/S which makes the latching contacts g and the heavy duty contacts h and a circuit is completed to the solenoid USW which is energised to eifect a step like rotation of the rotor arm S of switch S by means of a pawl and ratchet or other suitable device so that the rotor arm moves from one of the fixed contacts of the switch S to the next. As the solenoid USW is actuated it opens the switch U/S thereby opening the circuit to relay U/S and releasing the contacts h which actuate the solenoid USW thereby opening the circuit to the solenoid USW and relay U/S and releasing the latching contacts g, h.

The closing of contacts D completes a circuit to relay GR which closes the latching contacts 1' and applies a potential to the lower. side (as viewed in FIG. 7) of the switch S This prepares a circuit for effecting the severing of a form length, along a transverse line which will have been correctly aligned with the blade 11 when the feed is halted.

As the printing head 26 starts to descend to carry out the next imprinting operation it closes the switch As shown the rotor SWR of the selector switch SW is positioned for effecting a severing operation after each printing operation and accordingly when switch S is closed an impulse is transmitted to contacts SW of segments SW to SW and through the rotor arm SWR to relay 6R which makes the latching contacts k-and th heavy duty contacts '1 and completes a circuit through switch it to the solendoid 6R This solenoid is connected with the link 18a and on being energised it draws the blade holder 14 downwardly to efiect a severing 'operation to cut oil the leading form length. As the blade 11 moves downwardly and before it engages the web, a member mounted on the side edges of the holder 14 engage the rollers 24 to efiect the downward movement of the clamping plates 19 towards the fixed clamping plates 16 so that the web will be efiectively clamped while it is being severed.

When the web is severed, means on the link 18- or a part movable downwardly therewith operates a switch 6R to open the circuit to relays GR and GR thereby releasing the latching contacts k and the contacts b to break the circuit to the solenoid GM The switch S is only momentarily closed by the printing head so the circuit to the solenoid GR will now be opened and remains so until the switch S is closed on the next downward movement of the printing head.

If it is desired to effect three printing operations on the web before a severing operation, for example to effect an imprint on each of three form lengths and then sever these from the web, the rotor SWR of the selector switch SW will be rotated to position its respective arms on contacts SW of the four segments.

Assuming rotor arm S has one arm on contact 48 of switch S and that the printing head has just completed an imprint on the first of the three form lengths of the web to receive an imprint, as the head rises it will close switch S and the sequence of operations will be carried out as previously described, the brake being released by opening contacts A, the clutch engaged by closing contacts B and the web fed until the first brush 2* makes contact with the plate 2d through the hole in the web when the web has been fed to position the next form length in imprinting position, the clutch then being disengaged and the brake applied. Also the solenoid USW will have been energised to move rotor S from contact 48 to contact number 1. As the head 26'starts to move downwardly to eflfect a second imprint on the web it closes switch S As however contact number 1 is not electrically connected to any of the contacts SW there is no circuit to GR and the solenoid GR will not be energised and no severing operation will be efiected.

As the head moves upwardly again the switch S is again operated and the cycle of operation is repeated, the web being fed to present thethird form length beneath the head 26 and the rotor S being moved on to the contact number 2 of switch S. As the head descends to eifect the third imprint the switch S is closed but as the contact number 2 has no electrical connection with any of the contacts SW the solenoid GR is still not operated.

When however the head next closes the switch S the rotor S will be moved to engage contact number 3 and accordingly as the head descends and closes switch S a circuit will be completed through the rotor arm S contact number 3 to the segments SW and thence through the rotor SWR to the relay 6R so that the solenoid GR will be energised to operate down the blade 11 to sever the web along a transverse line which will now be correctly aligned therewith. The web will be clamped, as previously described, during the severing operation.

The cycle of operation is continued and the web severed after every third imprinting operation. It will be noted that an electrical connection is provided to the contacts SW of segments SW and SW when the rotor S is on the contact number 6 and multiples of six, excepting where the number is also a multiple of twelve. In the latter case the circuit is completed directly through the rotor SWR independently of the switch S.

If it is desired to sever the web after completing every second imprinting operation the rotor SWR is moved to position its respective arms on contacts SW of the segments and it will be noted that one of the arms engages contact SW of segment SW which is connected with contact number six of switch S and multiplies of that number except where it is also a multiple of twelve.

The cycle of operation will be as already described except that the circuit to the solenoid GR to operate the cutter will be completed after every second downward movement of the printing head.

It will be understood that by varying the number and arrangement of the contacts of the switch S and the arrangement of the connections to the segment of the selector switch SW and by arranging to step forward switch S, when the required number of imprints is not digitally divisible into 48, representing the number of contacts on switch S, the cutter could be made to operate after 4, 5, 7 or any other desired number of imprinting operations.

Once the preselector switch is positioned according to the desired number of imprinting operations to be effected before the cutter is operated the apparatus can be continously operated and the cutter will be automatically operated to cut the web each time the selected number of imprinting operations have been made.

The clutch and brake may comprise a clutch plate mounted on the drive shaft of the motor M so as to be rotatable therewith but slidable axially thereof by interengaging splines the clutch plate carrying a piece. A co-operating clutch plate is mounted on a shaft co-axial with the motor drive shaft carrying the first of the gears of the gear train. The latter clutch plate carries a pole piece connected in circuit with the solenoid CS and when the latter is energised the last mentioned pole piece will attract the first mentioned one and the clutch plate on the motor shaft will be moved axially of the shaft into coupling engagement with the co-operating clutch plate to drive the latter and the feed roller 4 The brake may comprise a fixed brake disc carrying a pole piece and located in co-axial relation to the said co-axial shaft and having a bore in which the shaft freely rotates. A co-operating brake disc carrying an armature is mounted on the co-axial shaft so as to be rotated therewith but also capable of axial sliding movement along the shaft. The pole piece on the fixed brake disc is associated with the solenoid BS such that when this is energised the armature on the rotatable brake disc will be attracted and the slidable brake disc drawn into ongagement with the fixed disc and the frictional engagement between them will apply a braking action to the said co-axial shaft and so stop the drive to the feed roller 4 When the continuous web is first fed into the unit by hand before the apparatus is started up it will be necessary to correctly align the form lengths and to facilitate this the severing mechanism is disconnected and an indicator lamp substituted. This is effected by moving the switch arm n from contact 11 to contact 11 so that each time a severing operation would have been initiated the indicator lamp p will light up.

As described with reference to the accompanying drawings, three sensing brushes 2 are provided, and the hole 2 which is provided in each form length will be aligned with each brush in turn to arrest the feeding of the web when each of the three areas to receive an imprint is in position beneath the printing head. The longitudinal spacing of the sensing brushes may be varied according to the location of the areas to be imprinted by sliding the brushes along the bar 2' It will be understood that the number of sensing brushes provided will correspond to the number of imprints to be made on each form length.

The unit may be adapted to be detachably connected to the side of the addressing machine by adjustable means to enable the unit to be moved towards or away from 8 the machine according to the length of the form lengths constituting the continuous stationery, so that the lines of transverse perforations can be correctly aligned with the web severing mechanism.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for feeding a web of continuous stationery consisting of a series of connected form lengths to a printing machine having a printing head, each form length having an aperture, said apparatus including a bed plate, electrically actuated means for-feeding said web over said bed plate, electrically actuated means for arresting the feed movement, adjustable means for controlling the actuation of said arresting means, said adjustable means comprising fixed electrical contact means on said bed plate and co-operating contact means supported above said bed plate for adjustment longitudinally thereof so as to engage said fixed contact through said aperture in the form length to effect the energization of said arresting means, electrically actuated web severing means mounted at the end of said bed plate, an electrically actuated device for operating said web severing means, means for producing an electrical impulse for transmission to said device on the completion of each feeding and imprinting of a form length, a selector switch for controlling the transmission of said impulses to said device, said selector switch being manually adjustable to selected positions such that an impulse is transmitted to said device after a selected number of feeding and imprinting operations, and electrically actuated means operable on the operation of the web severing means to initiate the actuation of the web feeding means to start another cycle of operations.

2. Apparatus for feeding a continuous web of stationery consisting of a series of connected form lengths to a printing machine having a reciprocably mounted printing head operable to print on said form lengths, said apparatus comprising electrically actuated means for feeding the web, electrically actuated means for arresting the feed movement, adjustable means for controlling the actuation of said arresting means when a pre-determined feed movement has been imparted to the web to position a pre-selected area of a form length in position under the printing head of said machine, electrically actuated means for severing said web, manually adjustable presetting means for controlling the operation of the said web severing means to cut off the imprinted portion of the web each time a pre-determined number of web feeding and imprinting operations have been carried out on the web, and electrically actuated means operable on the operation of the web severing means to initiate the actuation of the web feeding means to start another cycle of operations.

3. Apparatus for feeding a continuous web of stationery consisting of a series of connected form lengths to a printing machine having a reciprocably mounted printing head operable to print on said form lengths, said apparatus comprising electrically actuated means for feeding the web, electrically actuated means for arresting the feed movement, adjustable means for controlling the actuation of said arresting means when a pre-determined feed movement has been imparted to the web to position a pro-selected area of a form length in position under the printing head of said machine, electrically actuated means for severing said web, an electrically actuated de vice for operating said web severing means, means for producing an electrical impulse for transmission to said device on the completion of each feeding and printing of a form length, a selector switch for controlling the transmission of said impulses to said device, said selector switch being manually adjustableto selected positions such that an impulse is transmitted to said device after a selected number of feeding and printing operations, and electrically actuated means operable on the operation of the web severing means to initiate the actuation of the web feeding means to start another cycle of operations.

4. Apparatus for feeding a continuous web of stationery consisting of a series of connected form lengths to a printing machine having a reciprocably mounted printing head operable to print on said form lengths, said apparatus comprising electrically actuated means for feeding the web, electrically actuated means for arresting the feed movement, adjustable means for controlling the actuation of said arresting means when a predetermined feed movement has been imparted to the web to position a pre-selected area of a form length in position under the printing head of said machine, electrically actuated means for severing said web, an electrically actuated device connected with said web severing means, a selector switch connected in circuit with said device, means for producing an electrical impulse for transmission to said selector switch on the operation of said printing head, a selector arm for said selector switch movable to selected positions to control the transmission of said impulses through said selector switch to energize said device, such that an impulse is transmitted to energize said device after the completion of a predetermined number of feeding and printing operations, and electrically actuated means operable on the operation of the web severing means to initiate the actuation of the web feeding means to start another cycle of operations.

5. Apparatus for operating on a web of continuous stationery consisting of a series of connected form lengths automatically to carry out a series of operational cycles in each of which the web is fed, imprinted and the imprinted portion severed from the remainder of the web said apparatus comprising web feeding means, a continuously running electric motor for driving said web feed means, electrically controlled means for applying a braking action to said web feed means, an imprinting device, means for operating said device to effect an imprint on the web and means for severing a portion of the web after it has been imprinted, an electrically actuated clutch for coupling said motor to said feed means for feeding the web, means operable by the imprinting means when an imprint has been effected to energize said clutch to couple the said motor to said web means, electrically actuated control means for deenergizing said clutch and energizing said brake means, adjustable means for effecting the energization of said control means when a feed movement of pre-selected length has been effected to position a selected area of a form length in imprinting position, means for operating said imprinting device to print on said selected area of the web, manually adjustable means for controlling the operation of the said Web severing means to effect a severing operation when a pre-determined number of imprinting operations has been carried out on the web, and electrically actuated means operable on the operation of the web severing means to initiate the actuation of the web feeding means to start another cycle of operations.

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